Gang-plow



I. A. WEAVER.

GANG PLOW. APPLNATION FILED JULY 17, I916.

Patenfed Feb. 22,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I- I. A. WEAVER.

V GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION man JULY 11. 1916.

1,369,583. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET'Z I. A. WEAVER.

GANG PLOW.

, 1 1916. 1,369,583. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3 I. A. WEAVER.

GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED JULY17, 1916.

I. A. WEAVER.

GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I71 I916.

- 1 ,369,583, Patented Feb. 22,1921.

5 SHEETSvSHEET 5.

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fifraz/ .22 Med/0e?" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA A. WEAVER, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THORNE BROTHERS, INCORPORATED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. I

GANG-PLOW.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 1921' Original application filed June 15, 1914, Serial No. 845,094. Divided and this application filed July 17,

1916. Serial No. 109,670.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA A. WEAVER, a c1tizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gang-Flows, or, which the following is a specification, the

same being a division of my application Serial No. 845,094, filed June 15, 1914.

My invention pertains to plows 1n general, but relates more particularly to gang plows of the serial raising and lowering type.

One object of the invention is the production of an automatic lifting device for the plows, which will raise them and lower them i in sequence by power derived from one of the ground wheels, and whlch w1ll be caprovement will be apparentto those skilled in this art from the consideration of a preferred embodiment of the invent on which is set forth in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and described in detail below.

In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plow mechanism incorporating the features of the invention;

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the plow shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the parts being viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the plow, showing the same on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5--5 of Fig. 6, through the axle of the carrying wheel from which power is derived for operating the lifting mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section just beneath the horizontal gear which such carrying wheel rotates.

Referring to the drawings, it will be 0b served that the machine frame, of general triangular form, consists of a front bar 10, and a rear bar 11 connected together diagonally of the direction of travelof the appllance by a pair of spaced angle bars 12 and 13, to thehorizontal flanges of which.

are fastened, in any approved manner, the series of plow beams 14,14, each carrying on its protruding rear end a revoluble diskplow 15 and associated scraper 16.. As is illustrated, the front andrear bars 10 and 11 extend beyond the companion angle-bars 12. and 13, and each, at the terminal of such protrucling end, has fastened thereto a bracket 17 provided with a vertical bearing 18. The

angle bar 13 has secured thereto a seriesof upwardly extended brackets or supports 19 carrying at their upper ends a bar 20 disposed parallel to the angle bars 12 and 13,

and acting not only to stiffen the frame, but also as a guard above the disks 15. The left- 'hand end of the bar 20, as the parts are viewed in Fig. 2, is bent rearwardly at 21 into register with the adjacent bracket '17,

to which it is attached at 22. y

The vertical bearing 18 of this bracket re: ceives the upright cylindrical portion 23fof the axle carrying the rear furrow-wheel 24. This axle 23 carries at its topend a bracket 25 with a bearingslidingly and revolubly receiving a'screw 26 equipped with a turning handle 27, and internally engaging a" threaded sleeve or rod 28 pivoted at 29 toone arm of abell-crank 30 fulcrumed at 31 on the supportv or bracket 17 the other arm of the bell-crank having pivotal connection with a forwardly extended rod 32, described hereinafter.

The axle of the wheel 24 has fixed thereto I a bent bar 33 (see Fig. 2) adjustably pivoted to a link 34, the other end of which ispivoted at 35 to a rock arm 36 oscillatingly mounted on the angle bar 13 at 37. This rocker arm 36 has also connected thereto a rod 38 disposed beneath the plow beams and pivotally connected at its forward end to an arm 39 forming an extension of the draw-bar 40,

which may be adjustably connected to the main frame in any one of a plurality of holes 41 in a plate 42 connected, as is illustrated in Fig. 2, to the ends of the two angle bars 12 and Drawbar 40,'by means of a com obtained.

necting strap 43, is pivotally connected at 44 to an arm '45 of the axle of the front furrow-wheel 46.

As in the case of the rear furrow-wheel 24', the axle of this front wheel 46 has a vertical cylindrical portion 47 rotatably received in the bearing 18 of the adjacent bracket 17', and at its upper end this axle has a cap 48 equipped with a bearing slidingly and revolubly receiving a screw 49 having a turning handle 50, the screw being received within a threaded aperture of the connecting bar 51 pivoted at its lower end at 52 to one arm of a bell-crank 53 fulcrumed at 54 on the bracket 17, the other arm of'the bellcrank being pivotally connected to the end of a rod 55.

The other angle of the triangular frame 1s supplied with a pair of upper and lower spaced bars 56 and 57, connecting together the two bars 10 aiid 11, the adjacent ends of which are spaced apart as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the'fastem'ng means for the parts being conveniently the bolts 58. The land wheel 59 is revolubly mounted on an axle 60, the inner portion of which is flattened,and extends between the two bars 56 and 57 to, which it is fulcrumed on a pin 61 extended through apertures in the bars and flattened part of the axle. The inner end of the axle is bifurcated at 62 and straddles a curved bar 63 fastened at its ends at 64 and 65 to the frame bars 10 and 11. Bar 63 has aplurality of apertures 66 permitting the axle, by means of apertures 67 in its bifurcated end and a pin 68, to be lockedin any one of a number of angular positions, it being understood that during such angular adjustment, the axle and the wheel 59 turn about the fulcrum pin 61. In this way any desired lead of the land wheel may be easily The hub of the wheel 59 carries a ratchet wheel 69, and loosely mounted on the axle is a bevel pinion 70 having an arm 71, to which a pawl 72 is pivoted at 7 3, the pawl carrying a roller 74 adapted to coiiperate with the teeth of the ratchet wheel so that the rotation of the ground-wheel may be transmitted through the ratchet and pawl to the pinion. The pawl is also supplied with a cotiperating spring 72.

The axle also 'has fixed thereto an arm 75 having a bearing 76 for the hinge pin 77 of an operating lever 78 carrying a roller 79 adapted to coact with the tail of the pawl 72, the lever being normally pulled into the position illustrated inFig. 5 by a coiled contractile spring 80, whose outer end is fastened at 81 to a bar 82 secured to the axle, the other end of the spring being connected to a bent bar 83'fastened to the lever 78, so that the spring exerts a direct pull upon the lever.

The axle between the plates 56 and Y63 of course revolve with the gear, andthey are adapted to cotiperate with the bent arm (see Fig. 6) fulcrumed at 91 on the inward extension of the axle, and pivoted at 92 to one end of a link 93, the opposite end of which is pivoted to a boss or lug 94 on the inner face of the lever 78. Operation: The manner in which this appliance performs its work is substantially as follows: 4

Assuming that the depth of cut of the plurality of disk plows has been determined by the adjustment of the screws 26 and 49, by their respective handles 27 and 50, and that the plow is traveling forwardly in the usual manner, performing its customary plowing function, it will be obvious that, as the drawbar 40 is shifted to one side or the other, the furrow wheels 46 and 24 will be properly turned on their vertical pivots to assist in the guiding and steering of the apparatus. When the plow reaches the end of the field, and it is desired to lift the plurality of disks sequentially, so as to end all furrows on a straight line transversely to the direction of i travel of the machine, the operator pulls the 1 constantly rotating, as well as the ratchet 69 carried on its hub, and as soon as the V roller 79 on the arm 78 releases the pawl .72 V by being withdrawn out of cotiperative relation with its tail, the pawl, under the influence of its spring 72 carries its roller 74 into one of the notches of the ratchet 69, thereby compelling the rotation of the arm 71 with the ratchet wheel, which rotation, of course, is transmitted to the pinion 70 and horizontal bevel gear 85. Gear 85 has four times as many teeth as the pinion 70, and during the sequential raising of the disk plows, the gear 85 makes a half revolution. That is to say, the pinion 70, thearm 71, ratchet 69, and wheel 59,'make two complete revolutions in rotating the gear 85 a half pleted the first revolution, it will have engaged the arm 90 and swung it and the arm 78 outwardly so that the roller 7 9 cannot cooperate with the pawl. On the completion of the second revolution, however, pin

89 will have moved away from arm 90, so

the carrying wheel 59 and gear 85.

In order to secure the lifting of the plows one after the other so as to end the furrows evenly, obviously, the forward plow must be raised first and the others in sequence afterward. Since these plows are all mounted on the same rigid frame, it is necessary to lift the forward end of the frame first,

and the rear end afterward, after a proper time interval, or, rather, an interval dependent upon the travel of the machine. It will be noticed that when the plows are down in operative position, as shown in Fig. 2, the angular relation of the lifting rods 55 and 32 with respect tothe gear 85 and its axis is quite different; or, stated differently, the rod 55 is beyond its dead center, and the rod 32 hasnot yet reached its dead center. The result is that, as soonas the gear 85 begins to turn in a clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Fig. 2, rod 55 immediately begins to swing its bell-crank 53, and the corresponding bracket 17 forming a rigid portion of the forward end of the plow-supporting frame, begins at once to slide upwardly on the vertical axle or shaft 47, beginning the initial lifting movement of the plows in proper order. The first part of this travel of the connection 87 causes no substantial movement of the bell-crank 30, or the rear end of the plow-frame; but as the pin 87 continues its rotation, it completes the lifting of the front end of the plowframe, which remains substantially in that position because the remainder f the travel of the pin is on approximately the dead center of the rod 55. On the other hand, however, when the pin 87 is approaching and passing through its dead-center position with respect to the rod 55, it is in its most efficient position for shifting the rod 32 and raising the rear end of the plow-frame,

whereby during the trvel of the pin 87 through a half' revolution the front end of the plow frame is gradually raised and maintained lifted, and then the rear end of the frame is raised and maintained in such position, bringingabout the proper and desirable sequential lifting of the plows due to their diagonal disposition across the plowframe. 4

Obviously, this elevation of the plows is brou ht about by a mechanism extremely simp e in structure and entirely automatic in its operation after the control lever has once been manipulatedto throw the parts into clutched relation, the power for the lifting of the plows being secured directly from one of the carrying wheels, in this instance the land wheel. Itis furthermoreto 'be observed that this lifting of the plows in sequence, although brought about by the rotation ofa single pin, is secured by reason of the relation of the lifting rods to such pin, so that the speeds of travel of the rods will be-so different as to occasion a prompt lifting of thefront end of the plow-frame and a delayed elevation of the rear end,-which of course causes the desired serial lift.

When it is desired to begin'plowing and to have the ends of all of the furrows even crosswise of the direction of'travel of the machine, the operator a ain manipulates the handle 78, either direct y or by means of a ulling cord, and then the gear 85 will make its other half revolution and stop; the car rying wheel 59, ratchet 69, pinion 70, and associated parts, making two complete revolutions, as in the previous instance, and automatically sto'ping. When the gear 85 starts, the pin 8 has passed the dead center as far as the rod'55 is concerned, but has not yet reached the dead center as far as the rod 32 is concerned so that the rod 55 will atonce lower the front end of the plowframe, and, after once being lowered, will maintain it substantially in that position, because during the remainder of the travel of the pin '87 it is approaching and passing by dead center. On the'other hand, when this pin 87 begins its rotation, there. is substantially no movement-of the rear end of the plow-frame because the pin is approaching and passing dead center with respect to the rod 32, and then travels in a path favorable for a substantial movement of the rod 32, which it occasions, resulting in the delayed descent of the rear portion of the plow frame. In this way the plows are lowered sequentially, the operation being' substantially the reverse of that-which takes place during the lifting, During the plowlowering operation the pin 88 onthe gear prevents the parts unclutching at the end of ous parts of this mechanism are all carried on or supported by and movable with the axle as it is shifted to difierent positions of adjustment.

Attention is also summoned to the fact that the independent hand-lifting mechaand nism for the plows and their frame is directly connected to, and in a certain sense forms a part of, the automaticlifting mech-,-

. noted is that the clutch controlling mechanism, inserted between the carrying wheel and the lifting mechanism which it operates, permits more than one revolution of the drive wheel toefl'ect the lifting of the plows, which of course permits a more effectiveand advantageous use of the power employed.

It should be observed, that, since the screws 26 and 49 support the frame from 20' the upper ends of the vertical axle portions 23 and 47 and havin sliding association with their bearings in t e caps 25 and 48, the plow-frame and plows are-free to rise without liftingor'interfering with the action of the carrying-wheels, which construction permits the plows and frame to ascend in ri mg over an obstruction without swinging or swerving the wheels from their course as would be likely to occur if the'wheels were lifted by the plows traveling over the obstacle. A structure of this character remains substantially true to its course even thoughthe act-ion of the plows is interfered with by obstructions over which they pass. I claim:

1. In aconstruction of the character de-,

scribed, the combination of a plow-support, a plurality of plows carried thereby, a pair of lifting means connected to said support at different points, a rotary member, and a pair of connections between said lifting means and said rotary member'and adapted to transmit power from-said rotary member to said lifting means and operate them at varying speeds whereby the plows may be lifted serially.

2. In a construction of the character described, the; combination of a plow support, a pluralityof plows carried thereby, a pair of lifting and lowering means connected to said support at different points, a rotary member, and a air of connections between said lifting an lowering means and said rotary member and disposed at angles whereby one of said connections will operate its lifting and lowering means relatively rapidly and then relatively slowly, and the other connection willoperate its lifting and lowering means relatively slowly and then relativel rapidly, to secure a sequential raising lowering of the plows. I 3. In a construction of the character described, the combination of a plowssupport,

a plurality of plows carried by said support direction of travel, a'lifting means connected to the forwardportion of said support, a lifting means connected'to the rear portion of said support, and means to operate said lifting means concurrently but at varying speeds to complete the raising of, the forward portion of the support first and the rear portion later to secure a serial raising of the plows.

4. In a construction of the'character de-. scribed, the combination of a plow-support,

a. plurality of plows carried by saidsupport and arranged in a series diagonally of their direction of travel, a raising and lowering means connected to the forward portion-of said support, a raising and lowering means connected to the rear portion of said support, and means to operate said raising and lowering means concurrently but at varying speeds to complete the raising and lowering of the forward portion of the support first and the rear portionlater to secure a serial lifting and lowering of the plows.

5. In a construction of the character de scribed, the combination of a frame mount ed on three carrying wheels, the axles of two of said wheels having vertical portions on which the frame isadjustable, the axle of the. third wheel being horizontaland angularly adjustablewithreference to said frame;-

6. In a construction of the character de' scribed, the combination of a suitably supported member, a plurality of plows connected to said member and arranged in a series diagonally oftheir direction of travel, and raising and loweringmeans for said member acting upon difi'erentportions conice currently but at varyingspeeds to raise one portion thereof more rapidly than another portion and to lower saidfirst portionmore' rapidly than the second portion, whereby: to secure a lifting and lowering of the plows 1n sequence. 7 r

7. In a construction of the character described, the combination of a plow-support, means on which said support is carried, a plurality of plows carried by said support and'arranged in a series diagonally of their direction of travel, and raising andlowering means for said support acting concurrently but at varying speeds to raise one portion thereof in advance of another portion and to lower said first portion in advance ofthe lowering of the-second portion, whereby to secure a lifting'and lowering of the plows in se uence. I n

8. n a plow, the. combination of a crank, means to rotate the crank, plows, and lifting mechanism for said plows including a plurality of rigid arms connected to said crank at different angles. V

.9. In a plow, the combination of a crank having a substantially vertical axis, means to rotate said crank, plows, and lifting mechanism for said plows includinga plurality of rigid arms connected to said crank at different angles.

10. In a plow-construction of the character described, the combination of carryingwheels, axles for said wheels having Vertical portions, an axle cap on the upper end of each of said portions, a plow-support slidable on said axle portions, means slidable through said axle caps supporting said plow- 1 support from said caps, and plows mounted on said support, whereby the plows are free to ride over obstructions w1thout lifting said wheels.

In witness whereof I have hereunto si ed my name in the presence of two subscri ing 15 witnesses.

IRA A. WEAVER. Witnesses:

R. C. BENNETI, D. D. Foeeu. 

